diff --git a/docs/dev/wan.rst b/docs/dev/uplink.rst
similarity index 86%
rename from docs/dev/wan.rst
rename to docs/dev/uplink.rst
index ec9d942b..4d48168d 100644
--- a/docs/dev/wan.rst
+++ b/docs/dev/uplink.rst
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-WAN support
-===========
+Uplink support
+==============
 
 As the WAN port of a node will be connected to a user's private network, it
 is essential that the node only uses the WAN when it is absolutely necessary.
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@ There are two cases in which the WAN port is used:
 After the VPN connection has been established, the node should be able to reach
 the mesh's DNS servers and use these for all other name resolution.
 
-If the device does not feature a WAN port, the LAN port is configured as WAN port.
-In case such a device has multiple LAN ports, all these can be used as WAN.
-Devices, which feature a "hybrid" port (labelled as WAN/LAN), this port is used as WAN.
-
-This behavior can be reversed using the ``single_as_lan`` site.conf option.
+If a device has only a single Ethernet port (or group of ports), it will be
+used as an uplink port even when it is not labelled as "WAN" by default. This
+behavior can be controlled using the ``interfaces.single.default_roles``
+site.conf option. It is also possible to alter the interface assignment after
+installation by modifying ``/etc/config/gluon`` and running
+``gluon-reconfigure``.
 
 Routing tables
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/docs/features/multidomain.rst b/docs/features/multidomain.rst
index 80cae0de..43f343bb 100644
--- a/docs/features/multidomain.rst
+++ b/docs/features/multidomain.rst
@@ -130,9 +130,7 @@ site.conf only variables
   - authorized_keys
   - default_domain
   - poe_passthrough
-  - mesh_on_wan
-  - mesh_on_lan
-  - single_as_lan
+  - interfaces.*.default_roles
   - setup_mode.skip
   - autoupdater.branch
   - mesh_vpn.enabled
diff --git a/docs/features/private-wlan.rst b/docs/features/private-wlan.rst
index 3c26c8f8..41664b73 100644
--- a/docs/features/private-wlan.rst
+++ b/docs/features/private-wlan.rst
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 Private WLAN
 ============
 
-It is possible to set up a private WLAN that bridges the WAN port and is separated from the mesh network.
-Please note that you should not enable ``mesh_on_wan`` simultaneously.
+It is possible to set up a private WLAN that bridges the uplink port and is separated from the mesh network.
+Please note that you should not enable Wired Mesh on the uplink port at the same time.
 
 The private WLAN is encrypted using WPA2 by default. On devices with enough flash and a supported radio,
 WPA3 or WPA2/WPA3 mixed-mode can be used instead of WPA2. For this to work, the ``wireless-encryption-wpa3``
diff --git a/docs/features/wired-mesh.rst b/docs/features/wired-mesh.rst
index 7f99c3c0..b48ec072 100644
--- a/docs/features/wired-mesh.rst
+++ b/docs/features/wired-mesh.rst
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ Configuration
 Both Mesh-on-WAN and Mesh-on-LAN can be configured on the "Network" page
 of the *Advanced settings* (if the package ``gluon-web-network`` is installed).
 
-It is also possible to enable Mesh-on-WAN and Mesh-on-LAN by default by
-adding ``mesh_on_wan = true`` and ``mesh_on_lan = true`` to ``site.conf``.
+It is also possible to enable Mesh-on-WAN and Mesh-on-LAN by default by adding
+the ``mesh`` role to the ``interfaces.*.default_roles`` options in site.conf.
 
 Commandline
 ===========
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index d8e39465..72648a9a 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Several Freifunk communities in Germany use Gluon as the foundation of their Fre
    dev/hardware
    dev/packages
    dev/upgrade
-   dev/wan
+   dev/uplink
    dev/mac_addresses
    dev/site_library
    dev/build
diff --git a/docs/user/site.rst b/docs/user/site.rst
index 79e7ca1e..5b2e0eeb 100644
--- a/docs/user/site.rst
+++ b/docs/user/site.rst
@@ -399,17 +399,49 @@ mesh_vpn
       },
     }
 
-mesh_on_wan \: optional
-  Enables the mesh on the WAN port (``true`` or ``false``).
+interfaces \: optional
+  Default setup for Ethernet ports.
   ::
 
-    mesh_on_wan = true,
+    interfaces = {
+      lan = {
+        default_roles = { 'client', 'mesh' },
+      },
+      wan = {
+        default_roles = { 'uplink', 'mesh' },
+      },
+      single = {
+        default_roles = { 'uplink', 'mesh' },
+      },
+    },
 
-mesh_on_lan \: optional
-  Enables the mesh on the LAN port (``true`` or ``false``).
-  ::
+  For devices that have two distinct Ethernet ports or port groups (often
+  labelled WAN and LAN), the ``lan`` and ``wan`` sections are used. When there
+  is only one port (group), ``single`` is used instead.
 
-    mesh_on_lan = true,
+  Available interface roles:
+
+  - ``client``: Port allows regular clients to connect to the mesh
+  - ``uplink``: Port is used to establish Mesh VPN connections
+  - ``mesh``: Wired meshing to another Gluon or Gluon-compatible node
+
+  The ``client`` role requires exclusive control over an interface. When
+  the ``client`` role is assigned to an interface at the same time as other
+  roles (like ``'client', 'mesh'`` in the above example), the other roles take
+  precedence (enabling ``mesh``, but not ``client`` in the example).
+
+  Such a default configuration still fulfills a purpose (and is in fact the
+  recommended way to enable "Mesh-on-LAN" by default): The "LAN interface
+  meshing" checkbox in the advanced network settings will only add or remove
+  the ``mesh`` role, so the ``client`` role must already be in the configuration
+  to make the LAN port a regular client interface when the checkbox is disabled.
+
+  All interface settings are optional. If unset, the following defaults are
+  used:
+
+  - ``lan``: ``{ 'client' }``
+  - ``wan``: ``{ 'uplink' }``
+  - ``single``: Same as ``wan``
 
 poe_passthrough \: optional
   Enable PoE passthrough by default on hardware with such a feature.
diff --git a/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-gluon-client-bridge-network b/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-gluon-client-bridge-network
index 490325cf..3d4dbac3 100755
--- a/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-gluon-client-bridge-network
+++ b/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-gluon-client-bridge-network
@@ -6,26 +6,9 @@ local util = require 'gluon.util'
 local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
 
 
-local interfaces = uci:get('network', 'client', 'ifname') or {}
-
-if type(interfaces) == 'string' then
-	local ifname = interfaces
-	interfaces = {}
-	for iface in ifname:gmatch('%S+') do
-		util.add_to_set(interfaces, iface)
-	end
-end
-
-if sysconfig.lan_ifname and uci:get_bool('network', 'mesh_lan', 'disabled') then
-	for lanif in sysconfig.lan_ifname:gmatch('%S+') do
-		util.add_to_set(interfaces, lanif)
-	end
-end
-
+local interfaces = util.get_role_interfaces(uci, 'client', true)
 util.add_to_set(interfaces, 'local-port')
 
-
-uci:delete('network', 'client')
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'client', {
 	type = 'bridge',
 	ifname = interfaces,
diff --git a/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-client-bridge-local-node b/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-client-bridge-local-node
index 824d8d40..e67dc7d5 100755
--- a/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-client-bridge-local-node
+++ b/package/gluon-client-bridge/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-client-bridge-local-node
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
 local next_node = site.next_node({})
 
 
-uci:delete('network', 'local_node_dev')
 uci:section('network', 'device', 'local_node_dev', {
 	type = 'veth',
 	name = 'local-node',
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ if next_node.ip6 then
 	ip6 = next_node.ip6 .. '/128'
 end
 
-uci:delete('network', 'local_node')
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'local_node', {
 	ifname = 'local-node',
 	proto = 'static',
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/check_site.lua b/package/gluon-core/check_site.lua
index 4cb44d5b..103cb929 100644
--- a/package/gluon-core/check_site.lua
+++ b/package/gluon-core/check_site.lua
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ need_string_match(in_domain({'next_node', 'ip4'}), '^%d+.%d+.%d+.%d+$', false)
 
 need_boolean(in_domain({'mesh', 'vxlan'}), false)
 
-need_boolean(in_site({'mesh_on_wan'}), false)
-need_boolean(in_site({'mesh_on_lan'}), false)
-need_boolean(in_site({'single_as_lan'}), false)
+local interfaces_roles = {'client', 'uplink', 'mesh'}
+for _, config in ipairs({'wan', 'lan', 'single'}) do
+	need_array_of(in_site({'interfaces', config, 'default_roles'}), interfaces_roles, false)
+end
+
+obsolete({'mesh_on_wan'}, 'Use interfaces.wan.default_roles.')
+obsolete({'mesh_on_lan'}, 'Use interfaces.lan.default_roles.')
+obsolete({'single_as_lan'}, 'Use interfaces.single.default_roles.')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/001-reset-uci b/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/001-reset-uci
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..4981390d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/001-reset-uci
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+NETWORK_CFG='/etc/config/network'
+NETWORK_SAVED="${NETWORK_CFG}_gluon-old"
+
+SYSTEM_CFG='/etc/config/system'
+SYSTEM_SAVED="${SYSTEM_CFG}_gluon-old"
+
+# Make sure everything is saved before we move away the config files
+uci commit
+
+# Save old configs (unless there is already a saved config,
+# which means that the previous upgrade was interrupted)
+if [ -s "$NETWORK_CFG" ] && ! [ -s "$NETWORK_SAVED" ]; then
+	mv -f "$NETWORK_CFG" "$NETWORK_SAVED"
+fi
+if [ -s "$SYSTEM_CFG" ] && ! [ -s "$SYSTEM_SAVED" ]; then
+	mv -f "$SYSTEM_CFG" "$SYSTEM_SAVED"
+fi
+
+# Generate a new network config
+rm -f /etc/board.json "$NETWORK_CFG" "$SYSTEM_CFG"
+config_generate
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/998-commit b/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/998-commit
index 8b4be6a9..9e781f34 100755
--- a/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/998-commit
+++ b/package/gluon-core/files/lib/gluon/upgrade/998-commit
@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@ uci -q batch <<-EOF
 	delete gluon.core.reconfigure
 	commit
 EOF
+
+# New config is saved, we can delete the old one
+rm -f /etc/config/*_gluon-old
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/002-migrate-system b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/002-migrate-system
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..b08dc8a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/002-migrate-system
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/lua
+
+local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
+
+-- Migrate system section
+local system = uci:get_all('system_gluon-old', '@system[0]')
+if system then
+	uci:tset('system', '@system[0]', system)
+end
+
+-- Migrate ntp section
+local ntp = uci:get_all('system_gluon-old', 'ntp')
+if ntp then
+	uci:tset('system', 'ntp', ntp)
+end
+
+-- Migrate gpio_switch sections
+--
+-- Only the value is copied from the old config, so updates to names and
+-- pins are preserved
+uci:foreach('system', 'gpio_switch', function(s)
+	local name = s['.name']
+	local value = uci:get('system_gluon-old', name, 'value')
+	if value then
+		uci:set('system', name, 'value', value)
+	end
+end)
+
+-- No other sections are migrated, so updated LED and RSSI configs can take effect
+
+uci:save('system')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/020-interfaces b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/020-interfaces
index 6371cc61..b56a1e26 100755
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/020-interfaces
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/020-interfaces
@@ -1,15 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/lua
 
-local sysconfig = require 'gluon.sysconfig'
-
--- Are we already set up?
-if sysconfig.lan_ifname or sysconfig.wan_ifname then
-	os.exit(0)
-end
-
-
 local platform = require 'gluon.platform'
-local site = require 'gluon.site'
+local sysconfig = require 'gluon.sysconfig'
 
 local json = require 'jsonc'
 local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
@@ -69,19 +61,15 @@ end
 if wan_ifname and lan_ifname then
 	sysconfig.wan_ifname = wan_ifname
 	sysconfig.lan_ifname = lan_ifname
+	sysconfig.single_ifname = nil
 else
-	local single_ifname = lan_ifname or wan_ifname
-	if site.single_as_lan(false) then
-		sysconfig.lan_ifname = single_ifname
-	else
-		sysconfig.wan_ifname = single_ifname
-	end
+	sysconfig.wan_ifname = nil
+	sysconfig.lan_ifname = nil
+	sysconfig.single_ifname = lan_ifname or wan_ifname
 end
 
 
-uci:delete('network', 'lan')
-uci:delete('network', 'wan')
-
 uci:delete_all('network', 'device')
+uci:delete_all('network', 'interface')
 
 uci:save('network')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/021-interface-roles b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/021-interface-roles
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..182c8903
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/021-interface-roles
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#!/usr/bin/lua
+
+local site = require 'gluon.site'
+local sysconfig = require 'gluon.sysconfig'
+local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
+local util = require 'gluon.util'
+
+-- Defaults from site.conf
+local roles = {
+	lan = site.interfaces.lan.roles({'client'}),
+	wan = site.interfaces.wan.roles({'uplink'}),
+}
+roles.single = site.interfaces.single.roles(roles.wan)
+
+-- Migration of Mesh-on-WAN/LAN setting from Gluon 2021.1 and older (to be removed in 2024)
+--
+-- Wired meshing is enabled for single interfaces if either of the settings
+-- was previously enabled
+local mesh_lan_disabled = uci:get('network_gluon-old', 'mesh_lan', 'disabled')
+local mesh_wan_disabled = uci:get('network_gluon-old', 'mesh_wan', 'disabled')
+if mesh_wan_disabled == '0' then
+	util.add_to_set(roles.wan, 'mesh')
+	util.add_to_set(roles.single, 'mesh')
+elseif mesh_wan_disabled == '1' then
+	util.remove_from_set(roles.wan, 'mesh')
+	util.remove_from_set(roles.single, 'mesh')
+end
+if mesh_lan_disabled == '0' then
+	util.add_to_set(roles.lan, 'mesh')
+	util.add_to_set(roles.single, 'mesh')
+elseif mesh_lan_disabled == '1' then
+	util.remove_from_set(roles.lan, 'mesh')
+	util.remove_from_set(roles.single, 'mesh')
+end
+
+-- Migration of single to WAN/LAN or vice-versa (an interface was added or removed)
+-- We identify the WAN with the single interface in this case
+--
+-- These settings only take effect when the section that is the target of the
+-- migration does not exist yet.
+if uci:get('gluon', 'iface_wan') then
+	roles.single = uci:get_list('gluon', 'iface_wan', 'role')
+end
+if uci:get('gluon', 'iface_single') then
+	roles.wan = uci:get_list('gluon', 'iface_single', 'role')
+end
+
+-- Non-existing interfaces are nil, so they will not be added to the table
+local interfaces = {
+	lan = sysconfig.lan_ifname,
+	wan = sysconfig.wan_ifname,
+	single = sysconfig.single_ifname,
+}
+
+for iface in pairs(interfaces) do
+	local section_name = 'iface_' .. iface
+	if not uci:get('gluon', section_name) then
+		uci:section('gluon', 'interface', section_name, {
+			-- / prefix refers to sysconfig ifnames
+			name = '/' .. iface,
+			role = roles[iface],
+		})
+	end
+end
+
+uci:save('gluon')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/110-network b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/110-network
index 79c50d27..ac084e6a 100755
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/110-network
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/110-network
@@ -1,11 +1,24 @@
 #!/usr/bin/lua
 
 local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
-local sysconfig = require 'gluon.sysconfig'
+local util = require 'gluon.util'
 
+local wan = uci:get_all('network_gluon-old', 'wan') or {}
+local wan6 = uci:get_all('network_gluon-old', 'wan6') or {}
+
+uci:section('network', 'interface', 'loopback', {
+	ifname = 'lo',
+	proto = 'static',
+	ipaddr = '127.0.0.1',
+	netmask = '255.0.0.0',
+})
 
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'wan', {
-	ifname = sysconfig.wan_ifname,
+	proto = wan.proto or 'dhcp',
+	ipaddr = wan.ipaddr,
+	netmask = wan.netmask,
+	gateway = wan.gateway,
+	ifname = util.get_role_interfaces(uci, 'uplink'),
 	type = 'bridge',
 	igmp_snooping = true,
 	multicast_querier = false,
@@ -13,12 +26,10 @@ uci:section('network', 'interface', 'wan', {
 	auto = true,
 })
 
-if not uci:get('network', 'wan', 'proto') then
-	uci:set('network', 'wan', 'proto', 'dhcp')
-end
-
-
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'wan6', {
+	proto = wan6.proto or 'dhcpv6',
+	ip6addr = wan6.ip6addr,
+	ip6gw = wan6.ip6gw,
 	ifname = 'br-wan',
 	peerdns = false,
 	ip6table = 1,
@@ -26,11 +37,6 @@ uci:section('network', 'interface', 'wan6', {
 	reqprefix = 'no',
 })
 
-if not uci:get('network', 'wan6', 'proto') then
-	uci:set('network', 'wan6', 'proto', 'dhcpv6')
-end
-
-
 uci:section('network', 'rule6', 'wan6_lookup', {
 	mark = '0x01/0x01',
 	lookup = 1,
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/200-wireless b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/200-wireless
index b0a5485f..604e33a8 100755
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/200-wireless
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/200-wireless
@@ -106,8 +106,6 @@ end
 local function delete_ibss(radio_name)
 	local name = 'ibss_' .. radio_name
 
-	uci:delete('network', name)
-	uci:delete('network', name .. '_vlan')
 	uci:delete('wireless', name)
 end
 
@@ -118,8 +116,6 @@ local function configure_mesh(config, radio, index, suffix, disabled)
 	local macfilter = uci:get('wireless', name, 'macfilter')
 	local maclist = uci:get('wireless', name, 'maclist')
 
-	uci:delete('network', name)
-	uci:delete('network', name .. '_vlan')
 	uci:delete('wireless', name)
 
 	if not config then
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/210-interface-mesh b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/210-interface-mesh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..7e2f8471
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/210-interface-mesh
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#!/usr/bin/lua
+
+local site = require 'gluon.site'
+local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
+local util = require 'gluon.util'
+
+local mesh_interfaces = util.get_role_interfaces(uci, 'mesh')
+local uplink_interfaces = util.get_role_interfaces(uci, 'uplink')
+
+local mesh_interfaces_uplink = {}
+local mesh_interfaces_other = {}
+for _, iface in ipairs(mesh_interfaces) do
+	if util.contains(uplink_interfaces, iface) then
+		table.insert(mesh_interfaces_uplink, iface)
+	else
+		table.insert(mesh_interfaces_other, iface)
+	end
+end
+
+if #mesh_interfaces_uplink > 0 then
+	uci:section('network', 'interface', 'mesh_uplink', {
+		ifname = 'br-wan',
+		proto = 'gluon_wired',
+		index = 0,
+		vxlan = site.mesh.vxlan(true),
+	})
+end
+
+if #mesh_interfaces_other > 0 then
+	local iftype, ifname
+	if #mesh_interfaces_other == 1 then
+		ifname = mesh_interfaces_other[1]
+	else
+		iftype = 'bridge'
+		ifname = mesh_interfaces_other
+	end
+
+	uci:section('network', 'interface', 'mesh_other', {
+		ifname = ifname,
+		type = iftype,
+		igmp_snooping = false,
+		proto = 'gluon_wired',
+		index = 4,
+		vxlan = site.mesh.vxlan(true),
+	})
+end
+
+uci:save('network')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/210-interface-wan b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/210-interface-wan
deleted file mode 100755
index cf6eff71..00000000
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/210-interface-wan
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/lua
-
-local site = require 'gluon.site'
-local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
-
-uci:section('network', 'interface', 'mesh_wan', {
-	ifname = 'br-wan',
-	proto  = 'gluon_wired',
-	index  = 0,
-	vxlan  = site.mesh.vxlan(true),
-})
-
-local enable = site.mesh_on_wan(false)
-local old_auto = uci:get('network', 'mesh_wan', 'auto')
-local old_disabled = uci:get('network', 'mesh_wan', 'disabled')
-if old_auto ~= nil or old_disabled ~= nil then
-	enable = old_auto ~= '0' and old_disabled ~= '1'
-end
-uci:set('network', 'mesh_wan', 'disabled', not enable)
-
-if uci:get('network', 'mesh_wan', 'transitive') == nil then
-	uci:set('network', 'mesh_wan', 'transitive', true)
-end
-
-uci:save('network')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/220-interface-lan b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/220-interface-lan
deleted file mode 100755
index 55586435..00000000
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/220-interface-lan
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,53 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/lua
-
-local site = require 'gluon.site'
-local util = require 'gluon.util'
-local sysconfig = require 'gluon.sysconfig'
-
-local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
-
-if not sysconfig.lan_ifname then
-	os.exit(0)
-end
-
-uci:section('network', 'interface', 'mesh_lan', {
-	ifname        = sysconfig.lan_ifname,
-	igmp_snooping = false,
-	proto         = 'gluon_wired',
-	index         = 4,
-	vxlan         = site.mesh.vxlan(true),
-})
-
-if sysconfig.lan_ifname:match(' ') then
-	uci:set('network', 'mesh_lan', 'type', 'bridge')
-else
-	uci:delete('network', 'mesh_lan', 'type')
-end
-
-local enable = site.mesh_on_lan(false)
-local old_auto = uci:get('network', 'mesh_lan', 'auto')
-local old_disabled = uci:get('network', 'mesh_lan', 'disabled')
-if old_auto ~= nil or old_disabled ~= nil then
-	enable = old_auto ~= '0' and old_disabled ~= '1'
-end
-
-if enable then
-	local interfaces = uci:get_list('network', 'client', 'ifname')
-
-	if interfaces then
-		for lanif in sysconfig.lan_ifname:gmatch('%S+') do
-			if util.contains(interfaces, lanif) then
-				enable = false
-				break
-			end
-		end
-	end
-end
-
-uci:set('network', 'mesh_lan', 'disabled', not enable)
-
-if uci:get('network', 'mesh_lan', 'transitive') == nil then
-	uci:set('network', 'mesh_lan', 'transitive', true)
-end
-
-uci:save('network')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-firewall-rules b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-firewall-rules
index 605f6684..ef616aef 100755
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-firewall-rules
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/300-firewall-rules
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ local wired_mesh_ifaces = {}
 uci:foreach('network', 'interface',
 	function(iface)
 		-- Select all interfaces with proto gluon_wired except for
-		-- mesh_wan into this zone, as mesh_wan is the same
+		-- mesh_uplink into this zone, as mesh_uplink is the same
 		-- interface as wan, which has its own zone
-		if iface['proto'] == 'gluon_wired' and iface['.name'] ~= 'mesh_wan' then
+		if iface['proto'] == 'gluon_wired' and iface['.name'] ~= 'mesh_uplink' then
 			table.insert(wired_mesh_ifaces, iface['.name'])
 		end
 	end
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/997-migrate-preserved b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/997-migrate-preserved
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..c40bbc9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/997-migrate-preserved
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/lua
+
+local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
+
+for _, config in ipairs({'system', 'network'}) do
+	uci:foreach(config .. '_gluon-old', nil, function(s)
+		if s.gluon_preserve ~= '1' then return end
+
+		-- Unnamed sections can't be preserved
+		if s['.anonymous'] then return end
+
+		-- We don't allow overwriting existing sections
+		if uci:get(config, s['.name']) then return end
+
+		uci:section(config, s['.type'], s['.name'], s)
+	end)
+
+	uci:save(config)
+end
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/sysconfig.lua b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/sysconfig.lua
index 93eb6ed1..7caf05c6 100644
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/sysconfig.lua
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/sysconfig.lua
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ local function get(_, name)
 end
 
 local function set(_, name, val)
+	if val == get(nil, name) then
+		return
+	end
+
 	if val then
 		local f = io.open(sysconfigdir .. name, 'w+')
 		f:write(val, '\n')
diff --git a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/util.lua b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/util.lua
index 48b8340e..7152bc4d 100644
--- a/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/util.lua
+++ b/package/gluon-core/luasrc/usr/lib/lua/gluon/util.lua
@@ -138,6 +138,34 @@ function M.get_mesh_devices(uconn)
 	return devices
 end
 
+-- Returns a list of all interfaces with a given role
+--
+-- If exclusive is set to true, only interfaces that have no other role
+-- are returned; this is used to ensure that the client role is not active
+-- at the same time as any other role
+function M.get_role_interfaces(uci, role, exclusive)
+	local ret = {}
+
+	local function add(name)
+		-- Interface names with a / prefix refer to sysconfig interfaces
+		-- (lan_ifname/wan_ifname/single_ifname)
+		if string.sub(name, 1, 1) == '/' then
+			name = sysconfig[string.sub(name, 2) .. '_ifname'] or ''
+		end
+		for iface in string.gmatch(name, '%S+') do
+			M.add_to_set(ret, iface)
+		end
+	end
+
+	uci:foreach('gluon', 'interface', function(s)
+		if M.contains(s.role, role) and (not exclusive or #s.role == 1) then
+			add(s.name)
+		end
+	end)
+
+	return ret
+end
+
 -- Safe glob: returns an empty table when the glob fails because of
 -- a non-existing path
 function M.glob(pattern)
diff --git a/package/gluon-mesh-babel/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/430-gluon-mesh-babel-add-mmfd-interface b/package/gluon-mesh-babel/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/430-gluon-mesh-babel-add-mmfd-interface
index 47807d95..073d288e 100755
--- a/package/gluon-mesh-babel/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/430-gluon-mesh-babel-add-mmfd-interface
+++ b/package/gluon-mesh-babel/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/430-gluon-mesh-babel-add-mmfd-interface
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
 
-uci:delete('network', 'mmfd')
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'mmfd', {
 	proto = 'static',
 	ifname = 'mmfd0',
diff --git a/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mesh b/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mesh
index 40943207..977b44d1 100755
--- a/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mesh
+++ b/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/310-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mesh
@@ -9,14 +9,12 @@ local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
 uci:delete('batman-adv', 'bat0')
 uci:save('batman-adv')
 
-local gw_mode = uci:get('network', 'gluon_bat0', 'gw_mode') or 'client'
-uci:delete('network', 'gluon_bat0')
+local gw_mode = uci:get('network_gluon-old', 'gluon_bat0', 'gw_mode') or 'client'
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'gluon_bat0', {
 	proto = 'gluon_bat0',
 	gw_mode = gw_mode,
 })
 
-uci:delete('network', 'bat0')
 uci:section('network', 'interface', 'bat0', {
 	ifname = 'bat0',
 	proto = 'none',
diff --git a/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-client-bridge b/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-client-bridge
index fc14a6e6..1ea64049 100755
--- a/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-client-bridge
+++ b/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-client-bridge
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ uci:section('network', 'interface', 'client', {
 	query_response_interval = 500,
 })
 
-uci:delete('network', 'local_node_route6')
 uci:section('network', 'route6', 'local_node_route6', {
 	interface = 'client',
 	target = site.prefix6(),
diff --git a/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/330-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mac-addresses b/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/330-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mac-addresses
index d323c863..09639e34 100755
--- a/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/330-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mac-addresses
+++ b/package/gluon-mesh-batman-adv/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/330-gluon-mesh-batman-adv-mac-addresses
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
 -- fix up potentially duplicate MAC addresses (for meshing)
 if not site.mesh.vxlan(true) then
 	uci:set('network', 'wan', 'macaddr', util.generate_mac(0))
-else
-	uci:delete('network', 'wan', 'macaddr')
 end
-uci:set('network', 'mesh_lan', 'macaddr', util.generate_mac(4))
+if uci:get('network', 'mesh_other') then
+	uci:set('network', 'mesh_other', 'macaddr', util.generate_mac(4))
+end
 uci:save('network')
diff --git a/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-wireguard/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/400-mesh-vpn-wireguard b/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-wireguard/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/400-mesh-vpn-wireguard
index dfadc95b..05e1d9e9 100755
--- a/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-wireguard/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/400-mesh-vpn-wireguard
+++ b/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-wireguard/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/400-mesh-vpn-wireguard
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 local uci = require('simple-uci').cursor()
 local site = require 'gluon.site'
 
-local private_key = uci:get("network", 'wg_mesh', "private_key")
+local private_key = uci:get("network_gluon-old", 'wg_mesh', "private_key")
 
 if not private_key or not private_key:match("^" .. ("[%a%d+/]"):rep(42) .. "[AEIMQUYcgkosw480]=$") then
   private_key = "generate"
diff --git a/package/gluon-setup-mode/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-setup-ifname b/package/gluon-setup-mode/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-setup-ifname
index 53d60d1c..145d371e 100755
--- a/package/gluon-setup-mode/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-setup-ifname
+++ b/package/gluon-setup-mode/luasrc/lib/gluon/upgrade/320-setup-ifname
@@ -3,13 +3,8 @@
 local platform = require 'gluon.platform'
 local sysconfig = require 'gluon.sysconfig'
 
-
-if sysconfig.setup_ifname then
-	os.exit(0)
-end
-
 if platform.is_outdoor_device() then
-	sysconfig.setup_ifname = sysconfig.wan_ifname or sysconfig.lan_ifname
+	sysconfig.setup_ifname = sysconfig.single_ifname or sysconfig.wan_ifname
 else
-	sysconfig.setup_ifname = sysconfig.lan_ifname or sysconfig.wan_ifname
+	sysconfig.setup_ifname = sysconfig.single_ifname or sysconfig.lan_ifname
 end
diff --git a/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/de.po b/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/de.po
index 4a6bc8b5..77b3a6a3 100644
--- a/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/de.po
+++ b/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/de.po
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ msgstr "PoE-Passthrough aktivieren"
 msgid "Enable PoE Power Port %s"
 msgstr "PoE-Ausgabe auf Port %s aktivieren"
 
+msgid "Enable meshing on the Ethernet interface"
+msgstr "Mesh auf dem Ethernet-Port aktivieren"
+
 msgid "Enable meshing on the LAN interface"
 msgstr "Mesh auf dem LAN-Port aktivieren"
 
diff --git a/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/fr.po b/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/fr.po
index 292d6e25..97067343 100644
--- a/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/fr.po
+++ b/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/fr.po
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Enable PoE Power Port %s"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Enable meshing on the Ethernet interface"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Enable meshing on the LAN interface"
 msgstr "Activer le réseau MESH sur le port LAN"
 
diff --git a/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/gluon-web-network.pot b/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/gluon-web-network.pot
index 913b78b3..a75929df 100644
--- a/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/gluon-web-network.pot
+++ b/package/gluon-web-network/i18n/gluon-web-network.pot
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Enable PoE Power Port %s"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Enable meshing on the Ethernet interface"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Enable meshing on the LAN interface"
 msgstr ""
 
diff --git a/package/gluon-web-network/luasrc/lib/gluon/config-mode/model/admin/network.lua b/package/gluon-web-network/luasrc/lib/gluon/config-mode/model/admin/network.lua
index dab31ec0..df92c965 100644
--- a/package/gluon-web-network/luasrc/lib/gluon/config-mode/model/admin/network.lua
+++ b/package/gluon-web-network/luasrc/lib/gluon/config-mode/model/admin/network.lua
@@ -76,36 +76,37 @@ end
 
 s = f:section(Section)
 
-local mesh_wan = s:option(Flag, "mesh_wan", translate("Enable meshing on the WAN interface"))
-mesh_wan.default = not uci:get_bool("network", "mesh_wan", "disabled")
+local wired_mesh_help = {
+	single = translate('Enable meshing on the Ethernet interface'),
+	wan = translate('Enable meshing on the WAN interface'),
+	lan = translate('Enable meshing on the LAN interface'),
+}
 
-function mesh_wan:write(data)
-	uci:set("network", "mesh_wan", "disabled", not data)
-end
+local function wired_mesh(iface)
+	if not sysconfig[iface .. '_ifname'] then return end
+	local iface_roles = uci:get_list('gluon', 'iface_' .. iface, 'role')
 
-if sysconfig.lan_ifname then
-	s = f:section(Section)
+	local option = s:option(Flag, 'mesh_' .. iface, wired_mesh_help[iface])
+	option.default = util.contains(iface_roles, 'mesh') ~= false
 
-	local mesh_lan = s:option(Flag, "mesh_lan", translate("Enable meshing on the LAN interface"))
-	mesh_lan.default = not uci:get_bool("network", "mesh_lan", "disabled")
-
-	function mesh_lan:write(data)
-		uci:set("network", "mesh_lan", "disabled", not data)
-
-		local interfaces = uci:get_list("network", "client", "ifname")
-
-		for lanif in sysconfig.lan_ifname:gmatch('%S+') do
-			if data then
-				util.remove_from_set(interfaces, lanif)
-			else
-				util.add_to_set(interfaces, lanif)
-			end
+	function option:write(data)
+		local roles = uci:get_list('gluon', 'iface_' .. iface, 'role')
+		if data then
+			util.add_to_set(roles, 'mesh')
+		else
+			util.remove_from_set(roles, 'mesh')
 		end
+		uci:set_list('gluon', 'iface_' .. iface, 'role', roles)
 
-		uci:set_list("network", "client", "ifname", interfaces)
+		-- Reconfigure on next reboot
+		uci:set('gluon', 'core', 'reconfigure', true)
 	end
 end
 
+wired_mesh('single')
+wired_mesh('wan')
+wired_mesh('lan')
+
 local section
 uci:foreach("system", "gpio_switch", function(si)
 	if si[".name"]:match("poe") then
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ function f:write()
 		uci:delete("network", "wan6", "ip6gw")
 	end
 
-
+	uci:commit('gluon')
 	uci:commit("network")
 	uci:commit('system')
 end